Example Sentences#

1. 도둑은 소를 훔치려고 몰래 올라갔지만, 어두워서 호랑이를 소로 착각하고 뛰어내린 것이었습니다.¹
   The thief had secretly climbed up to steal a cow, but because it was dark, he mistook the tiger for a cow and jumped down.
   • 올라가다 is a compound verb formed by 오르다 (to climb) and 가다 (to go), meaning ‘to go up’.
   • 았 is a past tense marker.
   • -지만 is a connective ending used to introduce a contrasting statement, similar to ‘but’ or ‘although’ in English. It acknowledges the preceding statement while adding information that contrasts with or differs from it.
2. 그러다 도둑은 나뭇가지를 붙잡고 겨우 나무 위로 올라갔습니다.¹
   At that moment, the thief grabbed a tree branch and barely managed to climb up the tree.
   • 올라가다 is a compound verb formed by 오르다 (to climb) and 가다 (to go), meaning ‘to go up’.
   • 았 is a past tense marker.
   • 습니다 is a formal polite ending used in declarative sentences.